Hey guys I bought a Spec Stg 3+ clutch from a member on the board. The buying process and price was awesome, so this is not a knock against that particular member because that expereience was great. I LOVE the way the clutch grabs and puts the power down to the wheels, and the LWFW can be a lil noisy but I think it sounds good and there is defiately a noticeable difference in throttle response and revs. On down shifts and upshifts the clutch grabs awesome and feels awesome, very smooth.

Now here is the problem: Although I am getting used to the clutch the drivability of it as far as gettin the car into 1st gear from a stop is terrible on the street. The clutch grabs very high which I can deal with, but its so sensetive and the margin for error is so small it can get quite annoying. The clutch grabs so hard and quick that if you dont let it into first gear perfectly and slowly it will buck and/or stall on you. I haven't even attempted to navigate the clutch on a hill. Now I can get it into first smoothly but its just annoying because I have to fully concentrate on it and do it very slowly. I can't juss hang out at a red light and enjoy myself and get the car quickly into 1st gear after the light turns green, I have to be paying close attention to the light for it to turn green so I can starting letting the clutch out b4 the light even turns green just to get it into gear smoothly without looking like an idiot or stalling. It has taken alot of fun out of the car in one way but added to it in others. The clutch just has no modulation whatsoever, feels numb, grabs very quick and hard.

What is the solution? Do you guys have any recommendations? Should I try revving the car to 2k rpm's and letting the clutch out? I feel like no matter what I'm not going to be totally happy with the car or clutch unless I change the clutch to something a little more enjoyable on the street; something that is not as harsh and is easier and more pleaseast to get into 1st gear but can still handle the power my car is making without slipping. Something that is easy to get into in 1st gear and something thats easy to handle on a hill. I know alot of you are probably saying "Learn how to drive your ar you idiot" and I definately have learned alot and have gotten better but I feel like its just overkill for the street. Does anyone else have this setup? What are all your opinions and thoughts on what I should do?

Questions to answer/consider?
1) Can I still use this LWFW with a different clutch?
2) What clutch do you guys recommend that will have stock like driveability but still be able to handle the power on a max'ed out k16 car thats RWD and has some other tweaks to it?
3) If I do the GT2/3 hydralic clutch assist delete do you think it will give me better pedal feel and make things easier (I know the effort to push the pedal in will be increased)?

Thanks in advance for everything, hopefully you guys can help me out

_Justin

 

I'm new to Porches, but in V8-land the higher stage Spec clutches were known to be very abrupt and hard to modulate. I'm wondering if your clutch uses the type of disk with small pucks of very agressive material.

http://www.specclutch.com/csproducti...product=stage3

Jeff

 

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/31957

Thats the clutch I have in my car. The clutch you are referring to is "stage 3" The clutch I have in the car is "stage 3+." Its supposed to have better drivability but I guess not....Any other suggestions or recomendations by anyone?

P.S. I think I blew a vaccum line or boost hose just now because my car isn't boosting at all....ugh such a bad day lol :-(

 

YOu should buy a UMW kit.

 

OK, I have a SPEC Stage3+ clutch kit in my single turbo 3.3L motor. To be honest, I hate it! It would be a fine track clutch as it will handle anything you throw at it, but for a street driven car, it's a real b!tch and it takes a very educated foot to engage it smoothly without bucking. I wouldn't recommend it for a street car.

There is a sweet spot where you can lift off and hold the clutch just before it engages. Then you just apply light throttle and slowly release and it will be smooth, but again, it takes an educated foot to learn where this spot is. I've had mine in my car for 9 months or so and still I occassionally let goo too fast and it starts to buck and nearly stall. Very embarrassing!!!

I intend to swap it out with a Kennedy Engineering kit, which is suppose to be friendier and hold 600lb/ft of torque. Ideal for my application.

 

yup you described it exactly how I feel. On the track it would be awesome because you dont have to worry about getting it into first, and after its in first its awesome and definately handles anything you throw at it.

Is the UMW drivable like a stock clutch?

 

I had the same experience when I first got my car...I have a very high performance clutch, rated good for 1000 hp. There is nothing more embarrasing than stalling a 200K car in front of a bunch of hotties.

Having said that, you need to get some seat time and, please don't be offended...but learn to drive a high performance vehicle and accept the compromises that such a vehicle requires. The clutch is that way because it needs to be in order to handle the power.

However, if you are still running K 16's then you probably don't really need a stage 3 clutch.

If you do go to stage 3-4 (which I think is the perfect car for most Porsche enthusiasts) then I hope that you have another dd, especially for stop and go traffick (I rarely drive my car if I anticipate traffick).

 

That is rich coming from you.....

 

I have the very same problem with mine. It took the fun out of the perfect car. I called ***** at FVD and he has the solution. Only thing, I can't repeat what he said b/c I didn't fully understand, but give him a call. He's very knowledgeble. We'll do it to my car in a couple of weeks and I'll post the results.

 

Sean it has nothing to do with seat time or having to compromise IMO.. I've had several clutch setups that handled LOTS of power on diff cars without compromising driveability, hell my car now feels like stock engagement but revs so fast and grabs hard, all depends on the setup! Justin damn man, i'll call you first thing in the morning

 

Its not that I cant drive it as stated before I knew that since the clutch was able to handle the power there would be a comprise somewhere else....I can get into first smoothly but its just annoying....I don't drive the car everyday, but when I do drive it I want to be able to enjoy it more. I feel for the street and just cruising around this specific clutch is overkill, although it is my fault I bought it, but I did get a very good deal on it so I figured what the hell lets try it out. I do not want people to think I'm whining or complaining, I had a good idea the clutch was going to be like this from the start, but not that drastic so I'm just trying to figure out what my options are. But thanks for the insight and keep the advice coming, Martin What set up do you have?

 

I love spec 3+'s, have one in my vette, they are a little loud, but I dont think they are hard to drive on the street at all, maybe the porsche one is drastically different in feel than the corvette model. If you want to get rid of it, let me know.


But on a side note. What is the Hydraulic delete that was mentioned in the first post? Is that just removing the clutch actuator? I really want that stronger clutch pedal feel myself.

 

jrgatfh,

I can almost guarantee that after a while you will become totally used to and comfortable w/ the clutch. You will need it for when you upgrade your turbos

Oh, and just ignore Miss Jamie, btw. He obviously has nothing better to do than to sit around and follow my posts.

Martin,

Are you saying that your Ruf clutch is as light as your G35 clutch?

 

Your description of the 3+ is accurate, that's the way it drives, it's mostly a track clutch. It's hard to drive on the street, hard to get moving, and you have to rev-match downshifts perfectly every time to avoid chatter, it's not for everyone.

 

I felt my 993TT lost all enjoyment when I put in ViperBob's Racing clutch.
Grabby, tricky, engaged toward the top when new made it an embarassing pain in the ***. My car with PE700 kit will have dual mass flywheel and
stenghthened pressure plate and clutch disc. I killed my 993TT everytime I
drove it (it was my 7th 911 Porsche) and my buddy with Carrera GT found
it unbearable. His clutch (CGT) requires a little getting used to but was
nothing compared to what I had. Ever watch a guy turn around a 996 (or
7) GT3 Cup Car...not pretty, very tricky clutch.

MK